Method of adsorbing chloride ions in an aqueous solution

Abstract

A method of adsorbing chloride ions from an aqueous solution with a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite including iron nanoparticles, aluminum nanoparticles and guar gum. The nanocomposite is in the form of extruded cylindrical particles in which the iron nanoparticles and the aluminum nanoparticles are dispersed in a matrix of the guar gum.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of adsorbing chloride ions from an aqueous solution, comprising:
 contacting a nanocomposite with the aqueous solution to form a mixture;   wherein the nanocomposite adsorbs at least a portion of the chloride ions in the aqueous solution;   wherein the nanocomposite comprises:   iron nanoparticles;   aluminum nanoparticles; and   guar gum;   wherein the nanocomposite is in the form of extruded cylindrical particles in which the iron nanoparticles and the aluminum nanoparticles are dispersed in a matrix of the guar gum; and   wherein the nanocomposite comprises:   15-25 wt. % iron nanoparticles;   15-25 wt. % aluminum nanoparticles; and   50-70 wt. % guar gum, based on a total weight of the iron nanoparticles, aluminum nanoparticles, and guar gum.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the iron nanoparticles have a spherical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the iron nanoparticles have an average size of 50-500 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the iron nanoparticles form agglomerates; and
 wherein the agglomerates have a size of 100-1,000 nm.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum nanoparticles have a spherical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum nanoparticles have an average size of 10-300 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum nanoparticles form agglomerates; and
 wherein the agglomerates have a size greater than 1,000 nm.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded cylindrical particles have a helical shape and a rough surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded cylindrical particles have a length of 0.1 to 100 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded cylindrical particles have a diameter of 0.1 to 10 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the aqueous solution from the mixture to leave the nanocomposite with adsorbed chloride ions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising stirring the mixture for at least one hour. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating the mixture to a temperature of 50-100° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises at least one additional ion selected from the group consisting of calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, nitrate, and sulfate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture has a ratio of mg of chloride ion to mg of nanocomposite of 1:1 to 1:10. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite has a chloride ion adsorption capacity of 330-360 mg of chloride ion per gram of nanocomposite (mg/g). 
     
     
         17 . A method of adsorbing chloride ions from an aqueous solution, comprising: contacting a nanocomposite with the aqueous solution to form a mixture;
 wherein the nanocomposite adsorbs at least a portion of the chloride ions in the aqueous solution;   wherein the nanocomposite comprises:   iron nanoparticles;   aluminum nanoparticles; and   guar gum;   wherein the nanocomposite is in the form of extruded cylindrical particles in which the iron nanoparticles and the aluminum nanoparticles are dispersed in a matrix of the guar gum; and   wherein the iron nanoparticles comprise:   30-40 wt. % iron; and   60-70 wt. % oxygen, based on a total weight of the iron and oxygen in the iron nanoparticles.   
     
     
         18 . A method of adsorbing chloride ions from an aqueous solution, comprising: contacting a nanocomposite with the aqueous solution to form a mixture;
 wherein the nanocomposite adsorbs at least a portion of the chloride ions in the aqueous solution;   wherein the nanocomposite comprises:   iron nanoparticles;   aluminum nanoparticles; and   guar gum; and   wherein the nanocomposite is in the form of extruded cylindrical particles in which the iron nanoparticles and the aluminum nanoparticles are dispersed in a matrix of the guar gum; and   wherein the aluminum nanoparticles comprise:   30-40 wt. % aluminum; and   60-70 wt. % oxygen, based on a total weight of the aluminum and oxygen in the aluminum nanoparticles.